ngok6 jyu4 tau4 lou5 can3 dai2鱷魚頭老襯底鳄鱼头老衬底
Jyutpingngok6 jyu4 tau4 lou5 can3 dai2
Yalengohk yùh tàuh lóuh chan dái
Definition
A person who looks tough, smart, or formidable on the outside but is actually gullible and easily tricked.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
This idiom vividly contrasts the fierce, intimidating appearance of a crocodile head with the foolish, gullible nature of a sucker underneath. It is used to mock people who project an image of being street-smart or aggressive to mask their actual incompetence or naivety. You will often hear it used when someone tries to act tough but ends up being the one who gets cheated in a deal or argument.
Examples
He always acts tough, but he is actually a total pushover.
Related words
Common phrases
to put on a tough act
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is genuinely dangerous or truly smart. It specifically targets the discrepancy between a person's intimidating facade and their underlying vulnerability to being manipulated.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
